Daniel Im

Pastor + Author

Church Multiplication

How to Engage People Disillusioned with Small Groups

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The first session in my Midsize Groups Course on Ministry Grid addresses how to engage people disillusioned with small groups. In this session, I examine how small groups are the means to community, but not the end. I then discuss how to overcome the difficult barriers that may arise in small groups developing community. Lastly, I introduce how you can establish midsize communities in your church.

Click here to take this session.

If you would like to read an earlier post I wrote reviewing Ministry Grid as well as introducing my Midsize Groups Course, click here.

A Review of Ministry Grid and my Midsize Groups Course

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Do you know about Ministry Grid? This is THE platform that I’ve been waiting for. I’ve always been a proponent of on-demand and on-the-go leadership training, but the learning management systems out there were either too expensive or not user friendly enough. That’s why, years ago, I went ahead and just created my own online small group leader training using Survey Monkey, but that was so 2010.

As I’ve been looking for more of a dynamic and intelligent system, I was first struck by RightNow Media’s online video Bible study and training library. I decided not to go with them since my church already had over 200+ small group videos in our own library, and with the demographic of our church, an online system would only cater to less than 20% of our groups. Furthermore, their learning management system did not have the customization features that I was looking for and it was way too expensive.

Enter, Ministry Grid.

Ministry Grid has the customization features that I want for a learning management system, the types of videos that will appeal to all leaders in my church, as well as reasonable pricing. That’s why we’ve signed up with them.

Recently, I’ve had the privilege to also partner with Ministry Grid to provide them with exclusive training content on mid-size communities/groups, as you see outlined in the image.

Click here to take the midsize groups course on Ministry Grid.

So if you’re interested in learning more about mid-size communities/groups, then take in this course and, while you’re at it, learn more about Ministry Grid.

  • Session 1 – How to Engage People Disillusioned with Small Groups
  • Session 2 – How to Make a Large Church Feel Small using Midsize Groups
  • Session 3 – How to Form a Missional Community through Midsize Groups
  • Session 4 – Leadership Development for Midsize Communities

How To Advance Your Leadership

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The best leaders are consistently learning and challenging themselves. They are not content with the status quo. Neither are they content with leading the way that they’ve been led or simply according to their gut instincts. The best leaders are on a lifelong journey of learning because they know that when they stop learning, they stop leading.

However, it’s not just about learning because any good leader knows the importance of learning.

The thing that sets the best leaders apart from the pack lies in Todd’s quote above. The best leaders not only strive to become experts in their field, but they also broaden their field of vision.

The best leaders have the rigour to learn outside of their field of discipline #leadership

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When you develop this discipline, you begin to see connections between seemingly disparate themes, ideas, and concepts. You develop the ability to integrate diverse perspectives into a collective whole. It’s like a light turns on in your brain.

As a pastor and as a church leader, I love to read spiritually formative books. I love to read books from thought leaders in my discipline, like:

However, if I stop there, then my leadership will only go so far.

To move further faster, you need to develop the rigour to learn outside of your field of discipline

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That’s why these are the books that I’m currently reading to challenge and grow myself:

1. How Brands Grow: What Marketers Don’t Know – Byron Sharp

  • What are the things that you want your church to do? How do you want your church to be known in the community? Marketing is not just for businesses trying to gain market share.

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How Do You Decide on Change or Transition?

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How do you decide on transition or change in your life?

  • Do you look at others who are doing what you want to do and try to emulate their steps?
  • Do you think of transition when things get tough at work or in life?

I find that there is a spectrum of change that all humans fall into. On the one end of that spectrum, we love the thrill of the unknown and get excited about change. On the other end, we love stability and are resistant to change.

Where are you on that spectrum?

My intention in this post is not to create a complete framework for discernment or change, nor is it to list out all of the Biblical passages that are relevant towards decision making. This post is intended to help you begin the conversation on how you process change by gleaning insights from this passage.

Don’t let your heart envy sinners; instead, always fear the Lord. For then you will have a future, and your hope will never fade. Listen, my son, and be wise; keep your mind on the right course. (Proverbs 23:17-19 HCSB)

Here are four insights on transition and change from this passage:

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Is This The Future of Group Life? Small Group Network Interview

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smallgroupnetwork

I was recently interviewed on GroupTalk @ SmallGroupNetwork.com about mid-size communities!

 

Carolyn Taketa, the Executive Director for Small Groups at Calvary Community Church, is a friend of mine and she interviewed me about all things mid-size communities.

In this Group Talk, we cover:

  • Creating an environment for those not likely to ever join a small group.
  • Keys to developing mid-size communities (MSC) for greater assimilation, discipleship, and multiplication.
  • How does a mid-size community compliment or conflict with existing SG structures?
  • Why is having a leadership team (instead of a single leader) critical to a healthy MSC?
  • Tips on overcoming leadership resistance to MSCs

I’d love to hear your thoughts and continue this conversation with you!

Be sure to check out the interview here.